One of the things I love most about living in the Scottish Highlands is finding quirky and unique experiences that you can only do here. There are many examples of this throughout the Scottish Highlands, but one of the closest to home for me is taking a trip on the Glenelg Skye Ferry.
I've always loved spending time on the water. Growing up in Glasgow, my family were always taking trips "doon the water" and we spend most of my summers growing up visiting the beautiful Isle of Arran. Moving to the Highlands a few years ago, I knew I wanted to spend time exploring the lochs and waterways around the Scottish Highlands.
So yesterday afternoon, we went for a drive down the Kylerhea road to the Glenelg ferry slipway. After the ferry had been cancelled in the morning due to bad weather, we spotted that it was back on in the afternoon
One word of caution (especially for those not used to driving on single track roads) the road down to Kylerhea is not for the faint of heart. I would say I'm pretty used to single track roads nowadays but the twists and turns of the Kylerhea road sometimes make my stomach turn. But I think you'll agree that the views over the Kylerhea straits and over to Glenelg and the hills of the surrounding Kintail area make that drive worthwhile!
What makes this crossing so special is the ferry itself. The Glenelg ferry is the last manually operated turntable in the world, making it a unique way to head over (or from in our case) the sea to Skye. The ferry is also a fantastic chance to see some wildlife up close. Although we didn't see anything this time, in the past we've seen lots of seals and porpoises, as well as spotting a local sea eagle once.
If you're heading to the Isle of Skye this summer, why not consider going a slightly different route?
Some Tips
Tickets for the ferry cost £18 per car with up to four passengers. If you are travelling in another vehicle, check the ferry website for more details
The ferry operates from 10am to 6pm from April to October, with it running 10am to 7pm in June, July and August. There's no need to book, simply arrive at the slipway and you'll have crossed over the sea to Skye within about 20 minutes
If the weather is particularly bad or the sea is rough, the ferry might get cancelled for the day. It's best to keep up to date with the ferry operating hours and changes in service via their facebook page and Instagram
The ferry has a shore station in Glenelg which sells merchandise, with coffee and cake being served from 10am to 5pm. There is, however, no toilet at the shore station. There are toilets at Kylerhea at the Otter Hide
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